Roughly a year ago I posted here about my cancer experience through my blog hapshaw.com. I asked family and friends to document everything through photographs.

From this I met Brian Hill (over the phone that is) and discussed ways of using my artist skills to help tell stories surrounding oral cancer. I don't know why it took this long to come up with something but I have started a documentary on a 2 time cancer survivor here in Urbana Illinois named Sten. His first cancer was like mine in that his lower mandible was rebuilt roughly 4 years ago. His second one which was at the beginning of this year was an esophageal cancer with not a very promising diagnosis. Needless to say he made it and offered himself to this project. We hope to tell a very in depth and personal story of oral cancer as opposed to commercially driven skewed message I seem to be seeing more and more. It's painful, ugly and real. This is what we will attempt to do.

2 Months ago I made some initial interviews that were basically a way for us to figure out the process and tool set. I showed a few folks a small 3 minute clip and from that garnered alot of people to pitch in there talents to make this more robust than planned. This would include a medical illustrator from Johns Hopkins, Musicians, Artists, Web Developers, even our Dr's, and many other area's of technical expertise. Many of these volunteer's, but not all, have been touched by cancer in someway. I think when it's all said and done you could say those of us that have been through this are the ones producing it. So for me the passion and energy flowing in is humbling and overwhelming. It has become something obviously important we all must attempt to do.The web address will be The Dragonfly

As of right now it's being forwarded so don't get confused by the address change once you click that link, this will change later.

I'm building a mailing list for now until we get the first trailer done which will be sometime this month. Please sign up if interested since generating a good audience from many of you here is very important to us. There is also other ways to connect that I list below if you prefer those means.

It will be delivered online only for the time being. We have the story broken down into small chapters between Sten's first and second cancer experiences. In other words it's a episodic documentary with each chapter having a very specific focus and being released as they are completed.

E-Dog, I would bet your work will be well appreciated by all. Thanks for doing this for us and the general public.

_________________________
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here

Thanks .. well I don't know how appreciated it will be but I think the truth of matters could use some more in depth focus. Less hype and more truth. Hopefully I do it well enough to do more stories. Everyone has such a different experience with this.

I might have announced it to soon but thought I would at least put it out there on the radar. I hope by end of next week to have a small segment so folks can at least see some evidence.